Sensing mechanism



Sept. 1945- L. s. WILLIAMS 2,385,323

SENSING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 18, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Lawrence J. VV/Y/llQ/HJ TTORNEYS Sept 1945- Q s. WILLIAMS 2,385,323

SENSING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 18, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lawrence J. M M/avm INVENTOR.

Sept. 18, 1945,

L. s. WILLIAMS 2,385,323

SENSING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 18, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 :79 sum E N D START 90 8o 70 60 5O 4o %8 EN D START END Fig. W

55; EEgg LUV/F6068 5 ////0/775 INVENTOR.

; TTORNEYS Sept. 1945- L. s. WILLIAMS 2,385,323

SENSING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 18, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

E I W ,1? 7 ,f/

5 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 18, 1945 SENSING MECHANISM Lawrence S. Williams, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Toledo Scale Oompan ration of New Jersey.

y, Toledo. Ohio, a con- Application December 18, 1942, Serial No. 169,427 14 (Cl. 177%51) This invention relates to sensing mechanisms for sensing the rest position of condition-responsive elements of condition-responsive instruments or for sensing selected value representing designations moved into sensing position by some other means; and for operating auxiliary mechanisms for indicating, printing or accumulating the values corresponding to such rest position or such designations.

The invention is susceptible to use in sensing not only the position of movable elements but also to use in reading values from designation bearing media, such as tabulating cards, automatic machine controlling elements, etc. For purposes of illustration, the invention is herein described as used to, sense the .position of a load-' responsive member 01' a weighing scale.

Because of the high-leverage which exists between the load-receiving and load-responsive members of a weighing scale, and the resulting fact that the condition-responsive element must be as free of mass and friction as possible, it is impossible to drive devices such as counters, or printers which carry large type, directly from the load-responsive member of a scale. This requirement also is true with respect to other sensitive instruments. Consequently when it is desired either to print the weight indicia or to provide a remote indication, it has usually been proposed to employ one of two general types oi mechanisms. The first of these is the so-called "follower" mechanism which is moved by an auxiliary source of power to the position assumed by the load-responsive. member of the weighing scale (or other instrument or device), the auxiliary source of power also serving to move auxiliary mechanisms to corresponding positions. None of the many mechanisms of this type which have been developed have proved to be commercially satisfactory. A I

The second attempted solution to the problem has been to provide a sensing mechanism which senses the position of the load-responsive member of the scale and then translates such sensedposition into movement ot'an auxiliary mechanism.

A fundamental problem encountered in the construction of sensing mechanisms arises from the fact that, whatever .iorm' of diifere'ntiation between successive increment positions of the load-responsive element is employed, there is always a "critical position between the designstions or steps representing two successive increload-responsive element at the point dividing one increment designation from the successive increment designation, it may select either one or the other. For example, if the load actually weighed on the scale is 499 increments so that the hundreds sensing device would have to select the 4" designation rather than the "5 designation, it might select the higher of the two, causing the mechanism to register 599 rather than 499.

Some sensing mechanisms have been designed for use with load-responsive elements carrying a plurality of electrical contacts so arranged as to agree with the value of the loads and across which contact-makers may be moved, the indicating or printing mechanisms being setup by the impulses created as the contact-makers close the particular contacts.- In mechanisms of this type where so-called impulse counters are employed, an element of time enters in, because, while electrical contacts can be made at extremely high speeds and electrical solenoids for operating the counting mechanisms can be energized very rapidly, if the times for breaking contacts and de-energizing solenoids are much longer. In these mechanisms it requires a rather lengthy period of time after the weighing mechanism comes to rest before the sensing mechanism completes its operation and sets up the sensed values. Many of such electrical mechanisms require an extremely high number of electrical contacts and electrical connections, thus rendering them impracticable. Furthermore, when a remote indication is required, a large number of electrical connections necessitates a very cumbersome cable for connecting the sensing mechanism to the indicating mechanism.-

It is an object of this invention to provide a sensing mechanism for sensing the position to which a condition-responsive element is moved which is not liable to error due to the sensing of incorrect values at critical positions."

It is another object of this invention to provide a value sensing device comprising a pinrality of "feelers" movable into contact with an equal number or series of stepped contacts, which, when the value to be sensed is",critical, bodily shifts the higher'value feelers to prevent erroneous sensing of incorrect higher values.

It is another obiect of this invention to provide an electrically operated sensing mechanism for sensingthe position of a condition-respon-' sive element, the time or operation of which is not dependent upon the length of time required to break the series or electrical contacts.

It is a further object of this inventionto provide an electrical sensing means for sensing the position of a condition-responsive element by drawing a plurality of contact-makers across electrical contacts arranged in groups in series, there being a series corresponding to each digit value in the indications to be afforded, in which the phenomenon of arcing is practically eliminated and thus the life of the device is proportionately lengthened.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an electrical means for sensing the position of the condition-responsive element of a measuring instrument which is rapid in operation, is not liable to destruction from electrical arcing and can be used to operate remote indicating means while requiring only a very few electrical connections between the remote indicating means and the sensing mechanism.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an electrical tracing device in which tracers are movable across stepped contacts and in which those tracers at the critical positions" are shifted bodily to prevent erroneous tracing of contacts corresponding to incorrect values.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a sensing device in which impulses to be counted in accordance with the value to be sensed are regularly created and are registered in counters corresponding to various increments of the total value only upon engagement of corresponding .elements of the sensing device.

More specific objects and advantages are apparent from the description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form of scale embodying the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. I is a fragmentary view, in elevation, of

a condition-responsive member and tracing equipment cooperating therewith.

Fig. II is a fragmentary view, in elevation, taken substantially from the position indicated by the line 11-11 of Fig. I.

Fig. III is a fragmentary view, in elevation, on an enlarged scale, taken from the position indicated by the line IlI-III of Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a horizontal sectional view, takensubstantially on the line IV-IV of Fig. I.

Fig. V is a similar view, taken substantially on the line V-V of Fig. I.

Fig. VI is a similar view, taken substantially on the line VI-,VI of Fig. I.

Fig. VII is a view, on a greatly enlarged scale, of a fragment of the condition-responsive element and the calibrations borne thereby.

Fig. VIII is a straight line projection of the fragment shown in Fig. VII diagrammatically illustrating the timing and operation of the sensing mechanism shown in Fig. I.

Fig. IX is a view, in elevation, of indicating and printing mechanism operable in response to the sensing performed by the mechanism shown in Fig. I.

Fig. X is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line X-X of Fig. 111

Fig. XI is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line XI-XI of Fig. X and showing a housing over the mechanism.

Fig. XII is a fragmentary view, in elevation, taken from the left side of Fig. XI.

Fig. XIII is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical and associated mechanism employed in the operation of the device illustrated in Fig. I.

These specific drawings and the specific deassasas scription that follows merely disclose and illustrate the invention and are not intended to impose limitations upon the claims.

A condition-responsive disk it which is rotated proportionately to the operation of a weighing (or other) instrument is mounted on a shaft ll located inside a housing I! of the instrument. The diskili is responsive directly in proportion to the magnitude of the condition under measurement and :bears a series of visible indicia II near its periphery which can be viewed through a magnifying lens it, set in the outside wall of the housing If, in cooperation with a stationary index I5 to indicate the magnitude ,of the condition under measurement.

The surface of the disk l0. in addition to hearing the visible indicia It, also carries a plurality of series of calibrations or increment designating elements, comprising contacts l6, "and II, one of such series being provided for each digit in the desired indications (for example, on the chart shown in Fig. VII the series It corresponds to unit increments of value, the series I! to tens and the series l8 to hundreds). The circumferential length of the disk ll 1 radians is divided by the total number of the smallest increments of value whichit is desired should be indicated, in this case 1000 parts. The series of calibrations I6 is thus made up of a plurality of successive spaced contacts ll..each of which represents ten increments, each'increment having a value of one. Each one of the successive steps in the contacts 19 stretches circumferentially a distance exactly equal to the distance through which the disk I0 is moved in response to one increment of weight.

The series of stepped contacts ll.is similarly constructed comprising a plurality of circumferentially elongated contacts 20, each of which has a plurality of steps, each step stretching circumferentially a distance equal to the distance through which the disk 10 is moved in response to a change in condition equal to ten increments of value. Similarly, there is provided a single hundreds contact ll having successive steps, each step of which extends circumferentially a distance equal to the distance through which the I disk It is moved in response to a change in condition of one hundred increments of value. It shfiiild be noted in Fig. vn that the radial thickness of each of the steps in the contacts ll, 20 and I8 is equal and that the risers" between the steps which form demarcations between the successive increment designations, are all drawn along radii of the disk. Each of the, unit steps in the units contacts I! is bisected circumferentially by that radius of the disk to which it corresponds. In other words, each step extends one half the distance between the value it represents and the next higher and next lower values.

The last step in each of the contacts I! is an exception to the rule. This step (having a value of 8) extends from the position corresponding to 7 /2 to the position corresponding to 9. The left side of each of the contacts is lies along a radius corresponding to the "9 value. Associated with each of the units contacts is is a contact 2| which extends from 8 to 9 cirassasas therewith, as long as they extended toward the center of the disk It as far as shown.

The mechanism for sensing the position of the disk I. and examining the increment designating elements borne thereby is all mounted on a bracket 22 which in turn is mounted on two posts 23 in the interior of the housing l2 and lies substantially in a plane parallel to the plane of the disk ll. At the upper end of the bracket 22 there is mounted a small electric motor 24, which, in the embodiment shown, is of the shadedpole" type. The motor 24 drives a shaft 25 (Fig. 11) on which are secured three cams 28, 21 and 24, and an intermittent gear 20.. The periphery of the cam 28 is engaged by two cam riders 30 and 2| (see also Fig. XIII) which serve to control contacts 22 and the pair of contacts I2 and 24 respectively. The periphery of the cam 21 is engaged by a cam rider 25 which controls a contact 36 and the periphery of the cam 24 is engaged by a cam rider 31 which controls a pair of contacts 34 and 38.

The intermittent gear 29 is engageable in a short rack 40, cut in the upper end of a vertical slidable tracer bar 4| mounted in clips on arms of the bracket 22. A pin 42, riveted to and projecting rearwardly from the bar 4|. is engageable beneath a spring brake 48, the right end of which is secured to the bracket 22 and the free end of which is engageable with the periphery of the disk i when the pin 42 is moved out of engagement with the brake. hooked between a pin 4!, riveted in the bar 4|, and an adiustably pdsitionable finger 46 secured to the bracket 22, the spring tending to urge the bar 4| toward and hold it at the upper limit of its travel.

A substantially U shaped tracer frame 41 (see also Fig. II) is mounted on a vertical pintle 42 which extends between two right angle clips 48 riveted on the bar 4|. The cross bar of the tracer frame 41 is irregular in shape, having two arms 54 and ii extending from'its front side and an arm I2 extending from its rear side. The rearmost end of the arm 52 is turned up and carries a pin it which is riveted thereto. The pin 8 3 extends through a slot 54 cut in a guide 55 secured to the frame 22.

When the motor 24 is energized, the intermittent gear 29 is rotated in a clockwise direction driving the bar 4| downwardly and thus moving the pin 53 along the slot 54 which is so cut as to tilt the tracer frame 41 on its pintle, swinging the arms 50 and I toward the surface of the disk ll.

A tracer slide it overlies a portion of the tracer frame 41 being slidable transversely there across and is guided by two pins II which are riveted to the frame 41 and extend through elongated holes II in the slide 54, and a pin riveted to the arm I of the tracer frame and extending through a similar hole 44 in'the slide 44; A spring 4| is hooked between the upper end of the pin BI and a pin 82 riveted to and extending upwardly from the slide 54. thus tending to pull the slide to the right. The slide is normally held to the left by the engagement of a U shaped latch 43, pivotally mounted on the pintle 48 at the upper end of the frame 41, with an car 44 extending from the side of the slide 84. The latch is normally held in engagement with the ear 44 by a spring I hooked between it and the upper one of the angle'clips 42. The rear edge of the slide 44 is cut to form a cam 40 which is engageable, when A spring 44 is the sliding bar 4| is in its uppermost position,

with a prolection 41 secured to the bracket 22.

The projection 41, when the bar 4| and the tracer frame and slide 84 move upwardly, restores the slide 56 to its left position.

The rear end of the latch 03 is engaged by a U shaped bar 64 pivoted in two ears .4 of the bracket 22. wardly by a clapper ll of a clapper solenoid 1|. When the clapper solenoid II is energized, the clapper ll swings the bar 42 which pushes on the rear of the latch 42, swinging the latch II to remove it from engagement with the ear 44 of the slide It to permit the slide 54 to move to the right. (This, of course, can occur only when the bar 4| and tracer frame and slide are not at the top of their stroke and the cam 4' is out of engagement with the projection 31.) As the slidable members are returned to the uppermost limit of thelr.stroke by the spring 44, the projection 81, by engagement with the cam 44, returns the slide it to its left position and the spring I swings the latch 44 in behind the ear .4 of the slide 84.

A units tracer 12 (Fig. V), which comprises a bar 13 and a resilient contact 14 soldered thereto, is mounted on the left end of the arm N of the tracer frame 41. The bar 13 is insulated from the arm by a small block of non-conducting material II riveted to the underside of the arm 5| and is secured to the arm by a screw 14 and contact bolt 11 which also is insulated from the thousands there would be one additional tracermounted on the slide 46. etc., one tracer being added for each additional digit.

When the bar 4| and tracer frame are moved downwardly, the pin 52, which runs in the slot 44, swings the tracer frame 41 on its pintle (as above explained) and swings the tracers l2, l8 and .12 into contact with the surface of the disk ll. As the bar and tracer frame continue to move downwardly, the three tracers are drawn across the respective series of contacts I, I1 and II. when the intermittent gear 2! has rorated far enough so that its teeth have all passed the rack teeth 44, the bar 4| is released upwardly under impetus of the spring 44. This slides the tracers upwardly across their respective contacts and, Just before the upper limit of the stroke is reached, the pin I3 is swung by the slot 44 to raise the tracersfrom the surface of the'disk.

In 1"ig. m there is shown a wiring diagram for the operation of the mechanism iust described. Th motor 24 is wired for single cycle operation. A lead ll connects one side of the motor to one side of a main power source 4| through a master switch 82. The other side of the line is connected through a lead It to normally open contacts 24 of a push button switch, the other side of the contacts 44 being connected to one side of normallyclosed contacts 44 of the push button switch. The other side of the contacts "is connected through a lead 44 to the other side of the motor 24. when the push button'switch contacts -24 are-closed, current flows from the line through the lead 28, the contacts The bar 42 may be swung down-.

84, a lead 81, the now closed'contact 3E and a lead to the lead 88 to the motor 24 and through the lead 88 to the other side of the line. The motor starts to rotate and the cam rider-8I climbs up from a lower surface 88 which it con-.- tacts when the device is at rest onto a higher surface 98 of the cam 28. This closes the contact 33. The push button switch now can be released and current flows from the line through the lead 83, a lead 9|, the contact 33, the lead 81 and the contacts 85 of the push button, which are closed when the push button is released, to the motor and the opposite side of the line. The motor continues to rotate. The next step in the operation which normally occurs is when the rider 38 rides up on a high cam surface 92 of the cam 26. This closes the contact 32. Shortly thereafter the rider 3I drops off the high surface 92 of the cam 23, opening the contact 38. Current can no longer flow through the circuit above described, which this contact controls, and, therefore, current is shunted around the contact 33 flowing from the line through the lead 83, the

The current for operating the counting and tracing mechanism is derived from a transformer I88, the energization of which is controlled by the contact 32 abov described so that all electrical circuits are cut oil at the same time. The cam rider 38 has a home position on a low surface I8I of the cam 29 which is lower than the surface 89. The contact 32 is open only when the rider 38 is in this home position. Thus, a soon as the motor is energized, and the cam 28starts to rotate, the rider 38 climbs on the surface 89 and successively on the surfaces lead M, the contact 32, a lead 93, a lead 98, a

half-*wave rectifier 85, a lead 98 and the lead 88 to the lead 88 and then to the motor and the lead 88 to the opposite side of the line. The halfwave rectified current when applied to the shaded-pole" motor causes the motor to slow down and to creep very slowly but with high torque. This counteracts almost all of the momentum which the parts may have. The motor continues to revolve slowly finishing the cycle of operation until the rider 38 drops oifv the surface 92 which breaks the circuit just described and brings the motor to a stop.

It is desirable that only single cycle operations be permitted but, if the push button contacts 88 were held closed instead of being released as soon as the cycle starts, current could flow through the contact 39 and thus maintain the motor at high speed so that it might be carried by momentum far enough for the contact 33 again to close instituting a second cycle. This is prevented by the fact that when the rider 3i rides up on the high level surface 92, it breaks the contact 34. If the push button has been held in, its contacts 85 are open and thus current cannot flow through them and the contact 33, which is closed, to energize the motor (as would normally occur). At this point, therefore, since the contact 32 is closed, the current must pass through the half-wave rectifier, thus slowing down the motor. This signals the operator to release the push button, in which case the operation proceeds as above described. The operation of the mechanismjust described constitutes a single cycle control which assures only one cycle of operation of the device upon the closing of the actuating push button contacts 84. but is not, per se, a part of the instant invention. Any single cycle mechanism may be employed for rotating the cams 26, 2-1 and 28 and the gear 29.

At the same time that the cam 28 is rotated, the cams 21 and 28 and the intermittent gear29 are also rotated since they are secured on the same shaft. The cam 21 has a singl short high surface 91, and the cam 28 has a single low sur face 98 and nine short equally spaced high surfaces 99. The timing relation between each of the steps of a cycle of operation is controlled by th relationship between the various surfaces on the cam 21 and 28 and the teeth on the intermittent gear 28.

secondary coil of the transformer I88 ls connected to a full-wave rectifier I82 which is a source of direct current required for operating the tracing circuits.

The steps in a cycle of tracing operations are as follows:

The rider 3! drops in the low surface 98, of the cam 28, closing the contact 39, and current flows from one side of the rectifier I82 (the other side of the rectifier is attached through a lead I83 to ground) through a lead I 8|, a lead I85, the contact 39, a lead I88 and three leads I81 which are parallelly connected to one side of three impulse counter clear solenoids I88, I89 and H8. The three "clear" solenoids I88, I89 and H8 are parts of three impulse counters, III, II2, and H3, III for counting units, 2 for counting tens, and H3 for counting hundreds, respectively. Current then flowsthrough three parallel leads II from the solenoids I88, I89 and H8 to a common lead H5 and a ead IIB to ground. Energization of the three solenoids I88, I89 and H8 withdraws their latches from behind the teeth III cut in the peripheries of the hubs of three sectors II8 of the impulse counters III, H2 and H3 permitting these sectors to be spring returned to the zero .position shown in Fig. XIII.

The tracer bar II has in the meantime been moving downwardly driven by the action of the intermittent gear 29 and the rack 48. The brake 43 has been released by the pin 42, thus holding the disk I8 against further movement. The pin 53 has been moved through the inclined portion of the slot 54 and the three tracers I2, I8 and I9 swung downwardly into contact with the surface of the disk I8.

The three tracers I2, 18 and 19 are moved downwardly across the surface of the disk I8. In Fig. VIII the starting positions of the tracer contacts are shown in solid lines for the two values 899+ and 929-. The contact surfaces on the disk I8 are cross-hatched. The vertical straight lines drawn across the figure represent the radial lines on the disk corresponding to the particular values of the various steps of the contacts I9, 28 and I8. The horizontal broken lines indicate the time at which the counting impulses occur.

The impulses which operate the three impulse counters III, H2, and H3 are all originated by of the impulses which are applied to each of the impulse counters depends upon the time at whichv the particular counter is inserted into the electrical circuit receiving the impulses. This time of insertion is controlled by the engagement of the tracer contacts 12, 18 and 19 with the two series of contacts I 5 and I1 and the contact I8 respectively. The tracing cycle differs slightly, depending upon whether the units tracer 12 contacts one of the individual contacts 2| which it does when the units value is between 8 and 9 This can be seen by reference to Fig. VIII where the individual contacts 2| are shown as extending horizontally on each side of the "9 radius a distance equal to half of the distance between successive ones of the radii.

If we assume that the value to be set up on the impulse counters is, for example, 784 (as shown in Fig. XIII), the operation of the device continues as follows: After the tracers have been brought into contact with the surface of the disk I0, the bar 4| continues to move downwardly and the three counters are cleared as above described by the closing of the contact 39. Immediately thereafter the rider 31 rides up on the first high surface 99 of the cam 28. In the example, none of the three tracers 12, 18 or 19 has reached any of the contacts I9, 20 or I8 and, therefore, no circuits have been established through which any of the impulses caused by the closing of the contact 38 can be transmitted to the impulse counters. Therefore. the first impulse, which occurs at the time that the tracer contacts are in the positions designated in Fig. VIII by the horizontal lines leading to 9, 90" and 900, is not applied to any of the impulse counters. The tracers continue to move downwardly and the tens tracer 18 comes into contact with the step-(in that one of the contacts 20 which is positioned in line with it) corresponding to the value of 80. This closes a circuit from the rectifier I02 through a lead I I9, the coil of a tens relay I20, a lead I2I, the tracer contact 18, the contact 20 and the body of the disk I itself, and through a lead I22. to ground. This energizes the relay I20 and closes its normally open contacts I23 and I24. Closing of the contact I23 seals in the relay I20 by permitting the current to flow directly from the lead I2I, through the contact I23. alead I25 and the lead IIG to ground. Closing of the contact I24 establishes a circuit from ground through the lead H5, the lead I25, the contact I24, a lead I26 and a lead I21 to the counting solenoid I28 of the tens impulse counter II 2. The other side of the solenoid I28 is connected through a lead I29 and a lead I30 to one side of the contact 38. The other side of the contact 38. formed by the cam rider 311, is connected through the leads I and I04 to the center connection of the rectifier I02.

Immediately thereafter the second one of the high surfaces 99 passes beneath the rider 31, closim: the contact 38 and the circuit just described.

This energizes the solenoid I28 which pulls downwardly on its feeding pawl I3 I. The feeding pawl is engaged with one of the teeth II1 on the hub of the sector II8 of the tens impulse counter H2. This advancesthe sector one step and a latching pawl I32 engages behind the second one of the teeth II1.

- Since in the example of Fig. Kill the value to be registered is 784, the hundreds tracer 19 now contacts the hundreds contact I8. This establishes a circuit from the lead I04, through the coil of a hundreds relay I33 and a lead I34 to the tracer contact 19 and through the hundreds contact I8 on the disk I0 and the body of the disk I0 to the lead, I 22 and ground. This closes two normally open contacts I35 and. I35 of the relay I33. The contact 35 seals in the relay by directly connecting the ground through the contact I35, the lead I34 and the coil of the relay I33 to the lead I04 and the rectifier. Closing of the contact I38 establishes a circuit from ground through the lead III, the contact I38, a lead I31, the coil of a counting solenoid I38 of the hundreds counter H3 and a lead I39 to the lead I30 and the contact 33 and thence the leads I05 and I04 to the rectifier I02.

As soon as this circuit has been established, the third one of the steps 99 on the cam 28 closes the contact 38 which, through the circuit just described (and through the circuit above described leading to the tens counter H2), energizes the counting solenoid I38 (and the solenoid I28) to pull downwardly on its feeding pawl I40 (and the pawl I3I) advancing the sector H8 of the hundreds impulse counter H3 (and the sector II 8 of the tens impulse counter I I2). A latching pawl I of the impulse counter II3 engages back of one of the teeth I I I to hold the sector I I 8 in place ((as does the latching pawl I32 of the tens counter II2).

As the cam 28 continues to turn, and the bar 4I continues to move downwardly, the three tracer contacts 12, 18 and 19 continue to slide over the surface of the disk l0. The raised surfaces 99 successively lift the rider 31, sending impulses through the two circuits already described, momentarily energizing the two solenoids I28 and I38 and advancing the impulse counters H2 and H3 respectively, one step with each impulse. The tracer 12 then engages with the 4" step of that one of the contacts I9 in line with the tracer. This energizes a units relay I42 by closing a circuit from the rectifier I 02 through the lead I04, 8. lead I43, the coil of the relay I42, a lead I44, the tracer contact 12, the contact I9 and the body of the disk I0 to the lead I22 and ground. This closes two normally open contacts I45 and I45 of the relay I42. The contact I45 seals in the relay by connecting the lead I 44 to the lead H6 through a lead I41 and the contact I46 closes a circuit from ground through the lead H8, the lead I41, the contact I48, a lead I48, the coil of a units counting solenoid I49 and a lead I50 to the lead I30, the contact 39 and thence the leads I05 and I04 to the rectifier I02. The next one of the impulses created when the next one of the surfaces 99 raises the rider 31 and closes the contact 33, thus energizes the units counting solenoid I49 as well as the tens counting solenoid I28 and the hundreds counting solenoid I38. The energization of the units counting solenoid I49 attracts its feeding pawl I5I and advances the sector II 8 of the units impulse counter II I one step, a latching pawl I52 of the counter engaging behind one of the teeth III to hold thecounter in position.

The three remaining raised surfaces 99 successively pass beneath the rider 31, and the three impulses created thereby are delivered to all three of the impulse counters to advance them simultaneously, after which the hundreds impulse counter II3 has been advanced seven steps, the tens impulse counter ll2eight steps and the units counter III four steps to register the value 784.

Referring now to Figs. IX, X, XI and HI, the- I53 is secured to the sector H8 and is engaged with a pinion I54 journaled on a stud I55 secured to one of a pair of uprights I56 formed on a frame I51 on which the impulse counters II2, III and H8 (in that order) are mounted. As the sector II8 of the tens counter H2 is advanced by successive energizations of the counting solenoid I28, the pinion I54 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The pinion I54 is engaged with two similar plnions I58 and I58 which are journaled on an upper shalt I68 and a similar lower shaft I6I, respectively, that are mounted in the uprights I56. The two pinions I58 and I58 have elongated sleeve-like hubs I62 and I88, on the other ends of which are mounted a tens drum I64 and a tens type drum I65.

i'he sector I I8 of the units impulse counter I I I similarly carries a segment gear I88 which is engaged with a pinion I51 also journaled on the stud I55 and engaged with two pinions I68 and I58 which are journaled on the hubs I62 and I88 respectively of the pinions I58 and I58 respectively. The pinions I68 and 168 are secured to the hubs of a units indicating drum I18 and a units type-bearing drum I1I, respectively, located adjacent the two tens drums I64 and I65. The sector II8 of the hundreds impulse counter II8 carries a segment gear I12 which is meshed with a pinion I18 journaled on a stud I14 secured in the other one of the uprights I55. The pinion I18 is in mesh with two pinions I15 and I18 which are journaled on the other ends of the shafts I68 and I6I from which are Journaled the pinions I58 and I58. The pinions I15 and I18 are secured on sleeves I11 and I18 respectively, on the other ends of which are mounted a hundreds indicating drum I18 and a hundreds type drum I88 respectively.

Thus asthe three impulse counters I II, I I2 and H8 are advanced, the corresponding indicating drums I18, I64 and I18, and the corresponding type-bearing drums I1I, I85 and I88 are also advanced. A section of each of the peripheries of the three indicating drums I18, I64 and I18 is visible through a windowed opening I8I in the upper forward wall of a housing I82 mounted on the frame I51. The indication afforded through the opening I8I is shown in'Fig. XII for the value "520 at which the sectors II8 of the impulsecounters are shown in Figs. IX and XI. A card guide I88 projects through the wall of the housing I82 beneath the location of the three type drums I1I, I65 and I88 for the insertion of tickets or cards to receive a printed indication of the value traced. An ink bearing ribbon I84 is carried around the type bearing drums by a ribbon guide I85 and passes beneath the type bearing drums just above the card guide I88. An opening I86 in the card guide'is located just beneath the position to which the type corresponding to the value being traced is moved by the type-bearing drums. A printing hammer I81 is hinged in an upright I88 to be swimg upwardly VIII. As the cycle of operations isstarted the assasss' tional cam rider which would be actuated by another surface cut on one of the cams.

After the three tracers have been moved all the way across their respective contacts and, through the circuits established thereby, the impulses created by the cam surface 88 and the rider 81 have been transmitted to the impulse counters to set up, in their indicating and printing drums, a value corresponding to the value traced by the device, the tracers reach the position shown by the dash lines designated as end in Fig. VIII and at this point the intermittent gear 28 ceases to drive the bar 4I downwardly. Therefore the bar and the tracer frame 41 are moved upwardly under the impetus of the spring 44 until they reach the upper limit of their stroke. The cam rider 88 then drops into its home position on the surface I8I of the cam 26 breaking the contact 82 and, as earlier described, de-energizing not only the motor circuits but also the tracer circuits.

The description so far presented isof the operation of the tracer mechanism when the value to be traced and set up is not critical." As was earlier explained, critical" values are those occurring when either the tens or hundreds tracers must differentiate between successive steps in the contacts 28 or I8 corresponding to successive tens or hundreds ,values being traced. In order to insure accurate results at such "critical positions, the mechanism herein disclosed has been provided with a retracting" device. If, for example, the value to be traced is 899+ but less than 899 the three tracers are originally in'the position shown by the heavy lines 12, 18 and 18 in Fig.

cams rotated, and the bar 4I moved-downwardly to start the tracers moving across the surface of the disk I8, the three impulse counters III, I42 and H8 are cleared" by the closing of the contact 88 as above described. Immediately thereafter, the units tracer 12 contacts that one of the individual contacts 2I which is associated with that one of the units contacts I8 located on the line being traced. These contacts 2I serve the Y energized.) During the period of time in which through the opening I88 to press a card, or other impression-receiving medium, upwardly against the'ribbon I84 and them thehammer I81 is bifurcated and a short link I88 is resiliently and pivotally connected to a pin. I88 which extends across between the bifurcations. The upper end of the link. I88 is con- The rear end of nected to a core rod I8I of a printing solenoid I82. A push button I88 (Fig. 2H1) mounted on the tracer contact 12 is engaged with the contact 2I,'the cam surface 81 of the cam 21 lifts the cam rider closing the contact 86. This permits current to flow from the rectifier I82 through the lead I84, the contact" and a lead I84 to the coil of the clapper solenoid H and thence through a lead I85, the contact I45 of the units relay I42 (which has just been closed), the lead I41 and the lead I I8 to ground. Ii-the value being traced is not critical," this circuit is not closed by the momentary closing of the contact 86 because the units relay I42 has not yet been energized and its contact I45 is not closed until the tracer 12 contacts either one of the contacts 2| or one of the contacts I8. Energization of the clapper solenoid 1I swings its clapper 18 which swings the bar 88 to remove the latch 68 from behind the car 64 of the tracer slide 58. The spring 5| moves the tracer slide and thus the tens and hundreds tracers to the right (the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. vm designated by the numerals 18a and 18a).

The retraction of the tracer bars moves them to the right a distance corresponding to a value of one increment and thus eliminates any possibility of their being drawn across the wrong steps of the contacts 2|! and it. Since the units relay I42 is sealed in assoon as it is first energized, the first one of the impulses created when the contact 38 is closed by the first of the high surfaces 99 of the cam 28 is fed through this relay to the units impulse counter even though (as can be seen by the time and motion lines of Fig.

VlII) the tracer 12 is not in contact with either the contact 2| or the contact l9 at the time-the impulse occurs. Thus the units impulse counter receives all nine of the impulses created by the cam surfaces 99 and the contact 32. The vertical distance between the individual contacts 2| and their associated contacts I9 represents the time provided for the operations of retraction just described. Therefore, the tracers 18 and 19 are completely retracted before they engage their respective contacts.

The remaining parts of the cycle of operations are the same as above described with reference to the tracting of the value 784 with the impulses being switched to the tens and hundreds counters when their tracers contact their respective steps of the contacts 20 and I. After the trace has been completed, and the bar 4| released to be moved upwardly, the engagement of the projecion G1 with the cam 86 on the rear of the slide 56 cams the slide 56 to the left and permits the latch 63 to engage the car 64 holding the latch in this position.

If the value to be traced is,- for example, 928/z+, or any other value having a units value of more than 8% but less than 9, the three tracers are originally in the position shown at the left side of Fig. VIII (designated by the solid lines numbered 12b, 18b and 191)). When the tracer 12 contacts that one of the individual contacts 2| located at the position of the value to be traced, the cycle follows the steps just described causing the tracers I8 and 19 to retract to the positions shown by the dotted lines at the left side of Fig. VIII (designated by the numerals 18c and 190). This retraction would not be absolutely essential since the original tracer position -(18b and 1%) are quite removed from the extremely critical riser between successive 20 and 30 steps of the tens contact 20 but the retract mechanism is so designed that it always operates if the tracer 12 contacts any one of the individual units contacts 2|.

The contacts 2| thus serve not only as the 9 contacts of the stepped units contacts i9, but also as the means for controlling the selection at critical positions to prevent the erroneous tracing of a value 10, 100 or 110 increments too large. l

The embodiment of the invention that has bee disclosed may be modified to meet various requirements.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device for registering numerical values, in combination, a designation bearing member movable into position for examination, said member bearing a, plurality of series of increment designating elements, there being sharply defined transition points between said elements, impulse transmitting mechanism, a plurality of element examining members movable relative to said designation bearing member for examining said elements and for controlling said impulse transmitting mechanism in accordance with the values designated thereby, portions of those said elements designating the smallest increments being first examined by corresponding element examining members at such transition points, and means responsive to such first examination for shifting the others of said element examining members away from such transition points, thereby preventing erroneous examination of higher increment elements.

2. In a device for registering numerical values, in combination, a member movable into a position for examination, said member bearing a plurality of series of value increment designating elements, there being sharply defined demarcations between successive increment designations, a plurality of examining members for examiningsuch value designating elements, one of said elements in each of said series of elements being simultaneously examined, those of said elements representing minor increments having portions adjacent such demarcations which portions are examinable, in time, before the remaining portion of said minor increment elements and the others of said elements, mechanism operable during such examination of said portions of said minor ircrement elements for shifting the major increment element examining members away from said demarcations thereby to eliminate possibility of error resulting from examining higher incorrect elements, means for actuating a value registering mechanism and means operable by co-action of said examining members and said designating elements for connecting said actuating means to said value registering mechanism to cause said value registering mechanism to register values equal to the values designated by those of said elements examined.

3. In a device for registering values, in combination, a condition-responsive member, said member bearing a plurality of series of value increment designating elements, there being one of said series for each digit in the ,values to be registered, there being sharply defined demarcations between successive elements in each of said series, a plurality of examining members for examining such value designating elements, one of said elements in each of said series of elements being simultaneously examined, there being an examining member for each of said series of elements, each of said elements in that series of elements representing unit increments having a portion adjacent the demarcation between such element and the successively higher element which is examinable, in time, before the balance of such element and the others of said series of elements, means operable when a value lying within the range of such portion is examined for shifting those of said examining mem--' bers associated with elements representing higher increments away from such demarcations, and means controlled by said examining members for actuating a value registering mechanism in accordance with the values represented by the elements examined.

4. In a device for registering the numerical values of conditions, in combination, a conditionresponsive member, said member bearing a plurality of stepped contacts arranged in separate series, there being one of said series for each division in the values to be registered, said contacts and their steps extending in one direction distances proportional to the valuesthey represent, a plurality of sensing means, one of said sensing means being associated with each of said series of stepped contacts, said sensing means being movable transversely to such direction of extension of said contacts, the transition points between successive ones said steps and successive ones of said contacts being sharply defined, the ultimate steps of each of said contacts which represent the smallest division'of the values to be registered extending further in such transverse direction from the penultimate one oi said steps than the remaining ones of said steps extend from those steps there adjacent, whereby, when the value to be sensed is smaller by not more than one and one-hall nor less than one-half of the value of one of such smallest divisions of value than the value represented by one of said transition points between steps or contacts of those series of contacts representing higher divisions of values, said ultimate step is first sensed by the associated one of said sensing means, mechanism actuated upon sensing of such ultimate step for retracting the others of said sensing means and thus preventing incorrect sensing of higher divisions of values and mechanism controlled by and upon sensing by each of said sensing means of its associated contacts for registering the value of the contact sensed.

5. In a value sensing device, in combination,

an element bearing a plurality of-series of stepped- I increment designations, there being one of said series of increment designations for each digit in the values to be sensed, a plurality of sensing members, one for each of said series of increment designations, mechanism for moving said sensing members into sensing relation with said increment designations, means for creating a timed series of electrical inpulses during such .movement of said sensing members for operating a series of electrically operated impulse counters one for each oi said series of increment designations, each of said sensing members entering sensing relation with a step in one of its associated increment designations at a time during such series or electrical impulses when the remaining ones of such impulses equal the value of the sensed one of said steps, and mechanism energized upon such entrance for applying such remaining impulses to that one 01 said impulse counters connected to that seriesot increment designations in which such sensed step is located.

6. In a value sensing device, in combination, an element bearing a plurality of series of stepped increment designations, there being one of said series of increment designations for each digit in the valuesto be sensed, a plurality of sensing members, one for each of said series of increment designations, means for moving saidv element into p'ositionto be, sensed, mechanism for moving said sensing members into contact with those of such steps in their associated increment designations representing a value to be sensed, means for creating a timed series of. electrical impulses during such movement or said sensing members tor-operating a series of electrically operated impulse counters one for each of said series of element designations, each ot'said sensing members being moved into con-' 7. In a device for registering numerical values, in combination, a member bearing a plurality of stepped increment designating contacts, there being one series of stepped contacts for each order 01 increments of the values to be registered,

the steps in each of said series of contacts being of lengths having a ratio equal to the ratio between the values of the orders of increments of value represented by said series, each 0! such steps having a height proportional to th number 01' such increments represented by said step, the ultimate one of such steps in each of said contacts representing the lowest order oi. increments having a height greater than the remaining ones of such steps, a sensing member associated with each of said series of contacts, means for controlling a value registering mechanism initiated by contact between each of said sensing members and its associated contacts for registering the value of that one of said steps in said contacts contacted, and mechanism for shifting those sensing members associated with said series of contacts representing higher orders of increments of value upon contact between the asso ciated one of said, sensing members and any one of said ultimate steps of those of said contacts representing the lowest increments of value, said shifting mechanism operating to move the shifted sensing members a distance equal to one oi such lowest increments of value below their normal position thereby to prevent erroneous contacting of steps in those 01 said series of contacts associated therewith representing numbers of higher increments of valu just higher than those equal to the true value to be registered.

8. In a device for registering the .value of a condition under measurement, in combination, a condition-responsive member, said conditionresponsive member bearing a plurality oi. series of stepped contact elements, one of said series representing unit increments of value, one of said series representing tens increments of value and-a third of said series representing hundreds increments of value, the steps in said contacts being of lengths proportional to the values represented thereby and of heights proportional to the number of such values represented thereby, a plurality of contacting members movable into contact with said-elements, said steps extending upwardly in the directiom from which said contacting members are movable, those steps in said unit contact elements representing nines having a height greater than others of said steps, value registering mechanisms for registering the values of those steps contacted and mechanism operable upon contact of the associated contacting member with one of such nine steps of said unit contact elements for moving the others of said contacting members away from critical positions at the lines of demarcation between sucoessive steps in said tens series of stepped contact elements and in said hundreds series 01' stepped contact elements, whereby erroneous registration of tens and hundreds values is prevented.

- step on each of said contacts representing units,

a plurality of sensing members movable into con-- tact with said contacts, that one of said sensing members associated with said series of contacts of such electrical impulses, out oi line with the representing, units contacting said ninth steps before the others of said sensing members con- -tact their respective contacts when the value being sensed lies within one-half a unit of any value having a unit value of nine, mechanism controlled by and at such first contact of said ninth steps and said units sensing member for shitting the others of said sensing members out of line with the adjacent demarcation lines between successive ones of those contacts and steps associated therewith and electrical means responsive to contact between said contacts and said sensing members for energizing'a registering mechanism to indicate the values of those of said steps contactedfl 10. In a device for registering the numerical value of a condition by sensing the position of a condition-responsive member bearing a plurality lines of demarcation between successive steps or contacts in said series oi contacts representing higher increments of value.

12. In a device for registering the numerical value of a condition by sensing the position of a condition-responsive member bearing a plurality of series of stepped increment-oi-value designating electrical contacts, in combination, a plurality of tracers movable across said contacts, electrical mechanism for creating a timed series oi! nine electrical impulses during the movement of said tracers across said contacts, said series o! oi series of stepped increment-'oi-value designat- 4 ing contacts, in combination, an elongated ninth step on each of said contacts representing units,

a plurality of sensing members movable into contact with said contacts, that one of said sensing members associated with said series of contacts representing units contacting said ninth steps below the others or said sensing members contact their respective contacts when the value being sensed lies within one-half a unit of any value having a unit value of nine, mechanism controlled by and at such first contact--01? said ninth steps and said units sensing member for shifting the others'of said sensing members out of line with the adjacent demarcation lines between successive ones of those contacts and steps associated therewith, electrical apparatus for creating a timed series of electrical impulses during the movement of said sensing members subsequent to the operation of said shifting mechanism, other electrical apparatus activated upon first contact 01' any of said sensing members with one oi'the steps in that series of contacts associated electrical impulses being adapted to energize an electrical impulse counter associated with each of said series of contacts, and electrical apparatus for applying to each of said counters those of said electrical impulses not yet created at the time of contact between the associated one of said tracers and the contacted one of the steps in one of its associated contacts.

13; In a printing scale, in combination, a condition-responsive disk bearing a plurality of series of stepped increment designating elements, one of said series being provided for each order of increments in the values to be printed, the steps in each of said elements being proportional in length to the value of the increments represented thereby and in height to the number of such increments represented thereby, those of said elements in said series of elements representing the lowest increments of value having an ultimate step higher than any others of the steps in any of said elements, an individual sensing member movable into contact with the steps in said elements in each oi. said series of elements, one of such ultimate steps being contacted by the assotherewith for selecting the remainingones of such electrical impulses, said timed series of electrical impulses being adapted to, operate impulse counters to which the selected ones of such impulses are applied for registering the value of the contacted ones oi. said steps.

oi theiothers of said steps in any oi! said series 01' elements are contacted when the value to be sensed and printed lies within one-half of the lowest increment of value 01' the value represented by such ultimate step, the others of said sensing 11. In a device for registering the numerical value of a condition by sensing the position of a condition-responsive member bearing a plurality of series of stepped increment-of-value designating electrical contacts, in combination, a pluty of tracers movable across said contacts, one series of said contacts representing unit increments, said contacts representing units having a ninth step so constructed as to becontected by its associated tracer before the others of said'contacts are contacted-by their associated tracers when the value to be registered lies within one-half unit of a value having a unit value of v nine, electrical mechanismfor creating a t series of nine impulses during the movement of said 'tracersacross said' contacts subsequent to the time at which one oi! such ninth steps is contacted if the value being traced lies within the compass thereof, electrical apparatus adapted to energize an electrical impulse counter associated with each said series of contacts for applying to eacho! said impulse counters those-of such electrical impulses not yet created at the time of contact between the associated series of contacts and its tracer, and other mechanism operable members being then in line with'demarcations between successive steps or successive elements in the others of said series of elements, mechanism operable upon such first contact by its associated sensing member with such ultimate step for shifting the others of said sensing members out of line with such demarcatlons, and electrical means for actuating a recording mechanism associated with each of said sensing members for recording the value of that one of said steps in that'series .0! elements contacted by such sensing member.

14. In a printing scale, in combination, a condition-responsive disk bearing a plurality of series of stepped increment designating contacts, one

of said series being provided for each order of increments in the values to be printed, the steps in each of said contacts being proportional in length to the value of the increments represented thereby and in height to the number of such incren ents represented thereby. those of said contacts' in said series of contacts representing the lowest increments of value having an ultimate" step higher than any others of the steps in any. of said contacts, an individual tracer movable into -contact with and across the steps in said jsociated one oi' saidttracers before any of the upon contact between any one oi such ninth steps vand its associatedtracer for shifting the others of said tracers, before the start of the creation -contacts in each 01 said series of contacts, one

of such ultimate'steps being contacted by the asothers of said steps in any of said series of tacts are contacted by their associated tracers,

'whe'nthe value to be printed is such that those tracers associated with series of contacts repre- 3 I senting higher increments of value are in line with demarcations between successive steps or successive contacts in such higher increment series of contacts, shiftable mechanism operable upon such contact between one of such ultimate steps and its associated tracer for shifting the others of said tracers out of line with such demarcations, electrical apparatus for creating a timed series of electrical impulses during the movement of said tracers, and mechanism activated upon contact of each of said tracers with aseases LAENCE s. 

